Are Popsicles the next trendy treat?

Popsicles are coming into their own as the new gourmet treat of choice, with specialty shops sprouting up all over the country.

No, Seattle doesn’t own a big part of this trend yet. But after the autumn-like summer we’re experiencing, you can’t blame us for being a little behind the curve on this one.

What differentiates a gourmet pop from the typical variety available at your local grocery store?

For starters, you can forget about cherry and grape. Popsicles have been reinvented with flavors like lavender, cardamom and cilantro — ingredients you might be more familiar with if they were staring up at you from a dinner plate.

At King of Pops, the rotating menu includes flavors like grapefruit hibiscus, banana puddin’ and pineapple jalapeno.

Your best bet for finding gourmet Popsicles in the Seattle area? You might check the freezers at high-end grocery retailers like Whole Foods, according to The Associated Press.

Fashionable desserts are a trendy business model for entrepreneurs lately. The cupcake craze has received ample attention as the forerunner of trendy treats, but it’s worth noting that the markets for gourmet ice cream and fancy doughnuts also aren’t looking too shabby.